4 o'clock in the morning, by Capt. Ben Marler: 24 hours to go before Booksigning at the Museum

4 o'clock in the morning, by Capt. Ben Marler: 24 hours to go before Booksigning at the Museum: (DESTIN) DON'T FORG'T TO COME SEE ME TOMORROW! 4:00 - 5:30 PM SEE YA!

CHRISTMAS IS IN THE AIR AT BAYVIEW RV CAMPGROUND IN DESTIN FLORIDA

CHRISTMAS IS IN THE AIR! The sweet fragrance of southern pines being stirred by beach breezes. Do something wild and different! December is get together time, so bring the family and go camping, sip hot cocoa on the beach, enjoy great seafood dining on the waterfront, and make new history in Destin. You might meet a captain or two working on their glossy fishing boats. Book a fishing trip for spring! Baby, it may be cold outside, but cozy restaurants are sizzling and crackling with hot savory entrees, and it's a time to feel young and happy. Watch the Christmas boat parade from your restaurant table! The many glittering holiday lights are exciting, and wintry nights explode with fireworks at the bridge on Thursday and Friday, and free outdoor choruses,and club dancing, dining specials, blockbuster movies, and church services on the beach AND even on the boats are on our "to do" list! IF it's warm, get a wetsuit and rent a YOLO (you're only young once) board or kayak to Crab Island, or surf! And You couldn't find a better area to shop! Experience it! The largest discount designer mall in the Southeast U. S. is right here. December sunsets on the beaches are unspeakably beautiful. Be sure and bring your camera for that family shot all dressed in white at the beach, and video us for your own youtube productions. Send 'em to us! Make this years Christmas include sleeping under the stars, loving the beaches and boating on sparkling Crab Island. AND enjoy the always beautiful, dramatic Florida weather. Bring both warm and cool clothes~ Days can be HOT, NIGHTS COLD. (Most Affordable and Best Value in Destin!)

Santa's Reindeer Spotted a Great Place to Camp at Bayview RV Campground in Destin FL

SANTA'S REINDEER SPOTTED A GREAT PLACE TO CAMP! CONTACT US TODAY for MONTH OF DECEMBER AND THE HOLIDAYS! BRING THE FAMILY. TWO SITES AVAILABLE STARTING 12/1/11!! Site #3 AND Mega Site #10 (up to 42 ft.) Prices starting FROM $45-$55/night, $350-385/wk, $500/mo.-$635/mo. (*based on your RV size~ Call Now)
Curious about Old Destin? Read the New Book, "Old Destin Through the Eyes of a Child" by Capt. Ben Marler (http://olddestin.blogspot.com)

Athena Gifts~ Original Creations from Destin, Florida

It started with a painting, a vision of Jesus over the Destin bridge, The Son of Righteousness, cleansing Destin from some horrible pollution. In 1996, I painted this vision after a moonlit boat ride in East Pass, which I believe now was prophetic for such a time as this. The BP oil spill of April 20 changed our Gulf forever.
People expressed interest in the painting and asked for prints. So, Athena Gifts was born of that desire.
Her daughter Caroline has been creating posters in a genre she calls KITTAY (ITU).
So the adventures antics of Emo and her adorable kittens, Goku, Chioni, Nightmare and Cow are captured in humorous real life situations, such as "Oh NOZ, I'm IN ZE AIR."
Bayview RV Campground, smallest campground in Destin, now has a Shopping Mall for gifts and souvenirs, such as the newly designed Keychain for $2.95.
Destin has never looked more beautiful. A poster available in size from Portfolio to Colossal, even richly framed, may be ordered from Athena Gifts. She was in the water snorkling the day a sight was captured. 25 Manta Rays sailed over Crab Island on the very day before the oil tar balls washed up on Okaloosa Island.
A reproduction vintage postcard from Capt. Ben Marler's Boat Service of Her Majesty (1960-1971) brings back the good old days of folks who've loved Destin forever.
Whether you like posters, mugs, apparel, notecards, postcards, keychains, hats, buttons or stickers, we have been busily creating just for you. Let us know what you think. This is your store. Athena Gifts ~ Original Creations from Destin, Florida.

Visit Our New Shopping Mall for Bayview and Destin Items

http://www.zazzle.com/bayview_rv_campground_destin_fl_keychain-146557669489477720

EMMANUEL_GOD_IS_WITH_US Destin Jesus Vision Poster

http://www.zazzle.com/emmanuel_god_is_with_us_poster-228071950492547572

In 1998, the Lord gave me a vision that I believe was made for such a time as this. The BP oil disaster and spill on April 17, 2010 has finally reached and threatens the beaches of Florida and the entire Gulf Coast's fishing and tourism industries as well as an entire eco-system. In my vision 12 years ago, Jesus, Son of Righteousness, hovers over the Destin bridge with golden fire falling and rising in a column between the water and his mouth, as he cleanses and saves Destin from some horrible pollution as the Holy Spirit looks on. The white cross represents Destin, and I later learned was the site of Destin's first church at Taylor Calhoun Park. The painting is available on posters from Zazzle. The title is EMMANUEL - GOD IS WITH US.(c)Athena Marler Creamer.

FREE DESTIN BEACH VIDEO TO USE

I was at the Crab Trap restaurant yesterday, May 7, at 2:00 p.m., wading through the pristine, effervescent surf. I haven't seen many videos taken while in the water, so I thought it would be interesting for to capture the sights and sounds on my camcorder. The bubbles in the surf kept bursting around my feet, swirling and tickling my ankles. The water was perfect in temperature, cooler in some parts, warmer in others, and refreshing. A few seagulls circled overhead. The breeze was clean and scented with the living perfumes of marine life and tiny organisms. The sun was bright and warm. There was no sign of the BP oil spill. Pray with me that God will continue to bless us with this miracle beach. You are welcome to share this video with those in leadership in our Country.

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The True History of Crab Island in Destin, Florida

(Circa 1966-1974) Once upon a time, Destin was not even a dot on most maps. During tv's glory days of Gilligan's Island and Flipper, there was a small, circular island on the north side of the Destin Bridge. This is the legend of how Crab Island became to be. Daughters of Capt. Ben Marler, Jr. of Destin, Athena and Beth (then 6 and 2 years old) called it "Bird Island" every time Mother Joan drove over the two lane bridge to go to Ft. Walton on a trip to Sear's or maybe to McDonalds, Krispy Kreme, Delchamps, ballet lessons, or the Tringas Theatre (none of those places were in Destin.) They could see it because in those days, since in the freewheeling 1970s there were no seatbelts in most cars, they happily stood or knelt on the lettuce green vinyl car seats holding on to the back of the front seat like waterskiers. So small was it that only about 50 seagulls could fold their wings against the wind, tuck their heads, and warm their wet feet on it in the wintertime. And then, in the very year that the Destin Log was started, came big bad Hurricane Eloise in 1974. Not only did it twist Dad's Her Majesty II fishing boat sign into a metal pretzel and put out the four "blinking red fishes" on it, Hurricane Eloise swallowed up "Bird Island." So, Athena and Beth started calling it "Crab Island." They were familiar with the skittery, scattery blue crabs that swam away from their frightened little feet at the "Park," (Taylor Calhoun park on Calhoun Avenue, site of Destin's first schoolhouse where their Daddy once went to school with all the other children in the 1940s.) So, in 1974, Athena rode a school bus to Max Bruner Jr Junior High School and since she was always the last to be picked up, she often stood in the aisle of the bus. Each day, she said, "look, there's Crab Island." to the busload of jr. highschoolers. She was still standing in 1975 on the bus to Ft. Walton Beach High School. And half the bus would look to their right. Sometimes someone would say Naw,that's Bird Island. (by then, all the Destin kids called it Bird Island.) "No way', she would say. 'There's no birds! It's 'Crab Island' now." And so it was. Finally, as good things often go, the name stuck. Over the decades, Crab Island got larger with the passing tides, hurricanes and storms, but it never again raised a white eye to peek above sea level and wink at the weary birds. Boaters and wave runners discovered that it was a beautiful shallow place to anchor against the tide and wind, and swim at high tide when the blue crystal clear waters looked just like a waist-deep swimming pool. From the air, the sprawling island looks like a crab, surrounded by darker, deeper water and sometimes seaweed. Now, Crab Island is a destination, a world favorite "beach" to countless tourists and locals. Especially on big holiday weekends like Memorial Day, 4th of July, and during the annual Billy Bowllegs festival. You can hear a band, buy a drink, listen to radio music all tuned to the same channel, sun, laugh, slide down a huge inflatable slide, and just enjoy one big, happy, party on the water. And that, my friend, is the History of Crab Island. (Note: Children always played a part. Kathy Marler Blue of the Destin Fishing Museum remembers wading on crab island with crab traps with her grandfather, William T. Marler. So, whether it was above or below water, or named yet, do not know, only that is existed.//

SPRING BREAK INTERNET SPECIAL!

MOMS & DADS, Spring break excitement starts March 1, 2010 in Destin. Book and pay using Paypal in advance and get an exclusive internet special CREDIT of $10 on your total stay on already reduced rates!
Regular rates are $50 per night or $60 for BIG RIGS and RVs 36 ft. and up. Published rates will increase on April 15, 2010.
Book online at www.bayviewdestin.com or call 850-837-5085